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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Near Gettysburg in Adams County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic) |
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Second Massachusetts Infantry
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By Craig Swain, September 17, 2008 | |
| | | 1. Front Plaque of the Second Massachusetts Infantry Monument | | |
Inscription. (Front):
From the hill behind this monument on
the morning of July third 1863 the
Second Massachusetts Infantry
made an assault upon the Confederate
troops in the works at the base of Culp's
Hill opposite. The regiment carried to
the charge 22 officers and 294 enlisted
men. It lost 4 officers and 41 enlisted
men killed and mortally wounded and 6
officers and 84 enlisted men wounded.
To perpetuate the honored memories of
that hour the survivors of the Regiment
have raised this stone. 1879.
(Back):
Lieut. Col. Charles R. Mudge • Captain Thomas R. Robeson
Captain Thomas B. Fox • Lieut. Henry V.D. Stone
Color Bearers - Leavitt C. Durgin • Rupert J Sadler • Steven Cody
First Sergeant Alonzo J. Babcock - Sergeant William H. Blunt
Corporals
Charles Burdett • Jeremiah S. Hall • Ruel Whittier
Theodore S. Butters • Patrick Heoy • Gordon S. Wilson
Privates
Samuel T. Alton • James T. Edmunds • Charles Kiernan
George M. Bailey • William H. Ela • William Marshall
Henry C. Ball • John E. Farrington • Frederick Maynard
Wallace Bascom • Silas R. Foster • Andrew Nelson
John Briggs, | | | | 
By Craig Swain, September 17, 2008 | |
| | | 2. Back Plaque | | |
Jr. • Willard Foster • Rufus A. Farker
David B. Brown • Joseph Furber • Philo H. Peck
William T. Bullard • Fritz Goetz • Sideny S. Prouty
James A. Chage • Daniel A. Hatch • Richard Seavers
Peter Conlan • John J. Jewett • Charles Trayner
John Derr • John Joy • David L. Wade
Erected 1879 by State of Massachusetts.
Location. 39° 48.809′ N, 77° 12.972′ W. Marker is near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in Adams County. Marker is at the intersection of Colgrove Avenue and East Confederate Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Colgrove Avenue. Click for map. Located next to Spangler's Meadow at stop 13 (Spangler's Spring) on the driving tour of Gettysburg National Military Park. Marker is in this post office area: Gettysburg PA 17325, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 27th Indiana Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Indiana (within shouting distance of this marker); Third Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 27th Indiana Infantry (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); 3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (about 400 feet away); 107th New York Infantry (about 400 feet away); Slaughter at Spanger's Spring (about 400 feet away); 1st Maryland Regiment (about 500 feet away). Click for a list of all markers in Gettysburg. | | | | 
By Craig Swain, September 17, 2008 | |
| | | 3. Second Massachusetts Infantry Monument | | |
Also see . . .
1. Spangler's Springs. National Park Service virtual tour stop. (Submitted on November 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Report of Lt. Col. Charles F. Morse. Lt. Col. Morse wrote of the retreat:
I now took command of the regiment, Colonel Mudge having been killed. I found on going to the right that the regiment that had advanced with us had never reached the woods, and that we had nothing on our right flank, and that the enemy were throwing a force in our rear. I ordered the regiment at once back far enough to uncover the right flank, which left the enemy in a very exposed position. They fell back rapidly, but lost heavily in doing so. I remained in my new position, inflicting a heavy loss upon the enemy, until my ammunition was nearly exhausted, when I sent to Colonel Colgrove, commanding Third Brigade, for further instructions. He ordered me to bring the regiment back tot he rear of its former position. This was done, with a loss during the movement of 1 man killed and 1 officer and about 6 men wounded. (Submitted on November 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. The 2nd Massachusetts at Gettysburg. From a regimental history website. (Submitted on November 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
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By Craig Swain, September 17, 2008 | |
| | | 4. 2nd Massachusetts Initial Position | | Looking up through the turns of Colgrove Avenue, just south of the Brigade tablet. The regiment was initially in line across the ridge spur, with the 27th Indiana behind them. Upon receiving the order to advance, Lt. Col. Charles Mudge, commanding the 2nd Massachusetts, said, "Well, it is murder but it's the order." | | |
4. Corporal Theodore S. Butters 2nd Massachusetts Infantry. Wounded in the charge across Spanglers Swale (Submitted on January 1, 2009, by Paul L Butters of Norfolk, Massachusetts.)
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By Craig Swain, September 17, 2008 | |
| | | 5. Spangler's Spring | | The attack of the 2nd Massachusetts proceeded down the slope and into a stand of woods and boulders around Spangler's Spring. A small stream in the foreground flows from Spangler's Spring in the distant right. | | |
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By Craig Swain, September 17, 2008 | |
| | | 6. Furthest Advance of the Regiment | | Looking at Spangler's Spring (on the left near the road) from the south. The 2nd Massachusetts reached the boulders on the far side of Slocum Avenue (far center of the photo) before being driven back. | | |
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By Craig Swain, September 17, 2008 | |
| | | 7. The Regiment Falls back | | After the 27th Indiana on their right was repulsed, the 2nd Massachusetts faced flanking fires. Lt. Col. Charles Morse took command in place of Lt. Col. Charles Mudge, who had been killed. In this impossible situation, Morse ordered the regiment to fall back to the south. The regiment reformed along a stone wall and defended against Confederate counterattacks. This stone wall extending west of the monument location is roughly the same location where the regiment reformed. | | |
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| Credits. This page originally submitted on November 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 698 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Submitted on November 15, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. | | Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print |
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